Oil Mania

Oil is the it’s the cosmetic product of the moment. It's versatile, effective like creams, event in the sun, ideal for the hair. Hydrating, nouriscìhing and multi-use

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Superstar oil: it’s the cosmetic product of the moment. It's versatile, multi-use (ideal for the face, body and hair) and – in contrast to how it was a few years ago – isn't necessarily greasy and sticky.

"Today it's called dry oil, in the sense that it's a vegetable extract, as coconut and jojoba oils are, but they're treated with effective synthetic substances made up of molecules which have been reduced in size by technology and so are more easily absorbed," says the cosmetics expert Umberto Borellini. "Not only this, it carriesvitamins and highly effective active ingredients too: purely vegetable oil, on the other hand, has a greasier consistency."

Its role remains the same though, to hydrate the skin, but without leaving traces on the surface. "It's nourishing and replenishing, thanks to the fatty acids in the composition: they act as a glue in the deeper layer of the skin but also reinforce the cells in the layer near the surface, reducing the loss of water," adds Borellini.

Oil is perfect for hydrating face and body. One of the most common is argan oil, which protects against the attacks of the environment and skin dryness. Almond oil is perfect for calming itchy skin, palm oil is rich in beta-carotene, and avocado oil is an anti-oxidant.

At the moment however, the cool place to use oil is on the hair. The famous Maroccoinoil is adored by Hollywood celebs from Rosario Dawson to Maggie Gyllenhaal. Hair stylists have started to use it in the way that hydrating creams are used to prepare the skin before make-up is applied. From its healing pre-shampoo impact to ability to disentangle hair – and add a touch of anti-frizz – after drying, it's indispensable above all when there's a lot of humidity in the air. The best types for curly hair are coconut and jojoba oil, while straight hair should do better with roucou, a plant that originated in the Amazon, which is revitalising but doesn't weigh the hair down.

Linseed oil is recommended for dehydrated hair, while shea is the most cosmetic of all of them. Rosemary oil, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center in the USA, helps to stimulate blood circulation and even hair regrowth if massaged into the scalp.